Machine for grinding springs.



F. H. SLEEPER.

MACHINE FOR GRINDING SPRINGS.

APPLXCAUON FILED MAY 1, 1916.

1,227,498. Patented May 22,1917.

2 SHEETSSHE ET l. 9' F I WITNESSES: INVENTOR Han/5H5] v.

A TTORNEY F. H. SLEEPER, MACHINE FOR GRINDING SPRINGS.

APPLICATION man MAY]. l9|6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSHF: I INVENTOR (a fianlfii lw aev.

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A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

Emir H. SLEEPER, or woaons'rnn, MASSACHUSETTS, assrenon r SLE an. a near LEY, INQ, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFIMASSA HUSE'ITS.

mnon'mn Fora enmnme srnmes.

Application filed May 1, 1916. Serial No. 94,596.

To all whom it may 0mm,-

Beit known that I, FRANK H. SLEEPER,

a citizen of the Dominion of Canada resid:

ving. at Worcester, inthe cou of orcester and Commonwealth of asachusetts,

United, Statesof America, have invented a' j new and useful Improvementin Machines for Grinding Springs, of which the following, together, with the accompanying draw ings, 1s a specification.

The presentinvention'relates to a machine for grinding theends of coiled springs, and

the same contemplates the successive presentation of the, ends of a large number of springs to a Ehitable grinding element by the automatic devices hereinafter described.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism for this purpose which is 'substantiallyuniversal, 1n the sense that it is capable of operating upon springs which differ in size over a wide range, as regards bothlength and diameter.

A further object to ,provide a machine of this. class which afiordseasy adjustment ofthe pressure. with which the springsare held against the grinding elepient, particuable that only a light grindi'll out be taken.

larly with reference? tethe beginning of; the grinding operation, whenit is highly desir- A further object is to provi e' an arrangement of, parts whicheinsures substantially eyen' and uniform. wear on-the surface of the grindingelen ent, notwithstanding the fact that each spring, at; any given instant, is in contact with only a small portion of, the total surface of said element. A further object is to provlde for the ante:

matio ejection of-the springs. from the ma; chine, as each successive'springpasse fbeg;

jig element anrhif desired, to impart to each spring at' yond the influence of the grin this point an independent rotative movement, whereby the wear upon the grinding element is reduced and the end of the sprin g is n ore uniformly ground.

(Ether and further objects of my invention w rt forth fully in the followingdescripam of the mechanism, reference being had tofthe accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a toi) plan view of a machine,

embodying my invention;

fFigi 2 is a slde-elevation of the machine,

. p artsthereof being broken away and Sh wn longitudinal vertical section.-

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-May 22, 1917.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the machine on the'line 3-3 of Fig. 2, a portion of the spring carrying turret being removed for the sake of clearness.

- Fig. 4 is a view of the mechanism at the right hand end of Fig. 2, parts'being broken away to disclose the. mechanism for rotating the springcarrying turret.

Fig. 5' is a. diagrammatic representation 1, which supports bearings 2, 2 for a horizontalshaft 3. The shaft3 is driven in' any suitable manner, as by means of a belt pulley'4, operated from any suitable sourceof power,'not shown. Secured to the end of the shaft?) is a wheel 5, which supports, on

its outer face, a concentric annular grindlng element 6, madeof any suitable abrasive ma terial. The grinding element 6 is preferably detachably secured to the wheel 5, in order to permit its removal, when ,desired, for repair or replacement; as shown in Fig. 2, an annular-removable wedge shaped member 7 may be employed for this purpose, or any other well known expedient may be adopted 11" the wheel. r I

, or the presentation of the ends of the s'pringsjto be ground to the faceof the rap: idly rotatinggrinding element 6, a. revolving turret 8 1s employed, the same providing a plurality of spring supporting arbo 9 to retain the; grinding element imposition facing the grindingsurface of the elemen 6.

The arbors 9 are seated in \l-shaped notches .10 on the periphery of the turret 8, as shown;

means of a clamp 11 which spans the s ace between the two arbors and is held in rm engagement with each by means of a screw I or bolt 12 entered'into the rim of the turretQ The loosening of a bolt 12 p rmits adjust ment of the two arbors held thereb toward or from the face of the' grinding e ement 6,

and when the desired'adjustment has been made, the tightening of the bolt 12 holds the arbors 9 firmly in adjusted position.

The turret 8 is keyed to a shaft 13, and is capable of longitudinal adjustment there on by means of a set screw 14. The shaft 13 is journaled at its opposite end in a bearing 15, the longitudinal axis of whichis oflset laterally. with respect to the axis of the shaft 3, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The bearing 15' is supported for swinging movement about the transverse, axis afforded by 15 .the trunnions 16, the latter being provided by brackets 17 extending upwardly from a plate 18 which rests on the flat surface of the base 1.. The bearing l5is preferably integral with a housing 19, within which a 20 worm gear 20, fast on the,outer end of shaft 13, is disposed.v The worm gear 20. is in mesh with a worm -21,'also disposed within said housing and driyen from any suitable source of power, not shown, by means of a belt pulley 22. An arm 23, preferably integral with the bearing 15 and housing 19, projects downwardlytherefrom between the brackets 17 17 andprovides in effect a lever by means of which the bearing, the 39 housing and the. other associated parts may be swung aboutthe transverse axis afforded by the trunnions 16. To this end the arm 23 has a projection 24 which is disposed between the ends of oppositely engaging screw 5 bolts 25, 25, the latter being mounted in upstanding-lugs 26, 26 at the ends of plate 18. The adjustment of the screw bolts 25,

as will be apparent, determines the position of the arm 23, and thereby fixesthe inclina- 49 tion of the shaft 13, with respect to a horizontal plane' The plate 18 which supports .the entire bearing,- driving and adjusting devices of the shaft 13, as above described, is itself adjustable longitudinally of the base 1 by means ofa screw 27 operated by a hand wheel 28. The longitudinal move ment of said screw :is communicated .to the.

plate 18 by means ofa yoke 29, and the plate is guided in its movement by means of longitudinal slots 30 therein whichcooperate with bolts '31 projecting upwardly from the base 1.

By reason of the offsetior eccentric ,disa

position of the shaft 13, the paths described the springs, carried around by the rotating turret 8-, intersectthe' face,.-o f the Fgrinding element 6 in the manner iagrammatically indicated in Fig. 5,"1li h'ere the shaded wide annular POItlOIl-IfitIlGtLtBS the face of the rapidly rotating-grinding element, and the unshaded narrow annular portion indicates approximately the path of each spring. As shown in idfig'ure, this arrangement of parts provi' es at all times.

a; forithe exposure ofanugnber of the annutire length.

'. As a consequence, the v point 32 with a very light cut, which graduever, my anvention is not in any way lime.

lar series of arbors 9, at one side of and be yond the grinding wheel 5, whereby thr springs may be readily placed on said arand then across again to the outer periphcry. The grinding face of the element 6 is thus subjected to even and uniform wear,

which obviously would not be the case if the springs were carried in a path concen tric thereto. so

The springs to be ground are strung, by hand, upon the arbors 9 as the latter, in the relatively slow rotation of the turret 8, successively reach that portion. of their path. which lies to one side of the grinding sur- 5 face, as shown clearlyin Figs. 1, 3 and The arbors 9 are previously adjusted, by the devices 11 and 12 above described, to project the requisite distance from the face of the turret S, in order to provide support for each sprin throl'lghout near-ly its c11-' si'iihcient clearance always being maintained between the ends of said arbors and the face of therotati-ng grinding element (3. It will be clearly understood that the arbor retaining devices, as herein described, enable the use of sets of arbors of practically any and all sizes of springs.

In the rotation of the turret 8 in the di rection of arrow (1, Fig. 5, the springs thus held on the arbors are successively carried. into contact with the face of the element 13,. first engaging the same at or near the point 32, Fig. 5. The adjustment of the screw bolts'25, 25 to' impart an upward inclination "to the shaft 13, in the direction of. the grinding wheel, throws the turret 8 slightly outof a vertical plane. so that the springs sup- 1 10- por'tedat any. .qiven instant ,by the top of; v said turret project outwardlyia less distance than the springs near t hi-g bottom thereof. ing begins at the ally increases inidepl h as each spring progresses downwa1'dl "across. the face of the grindlng element, 1n the path indicated in Fig. 5, Obviously, the :result thus obtained i is a highly desirable one; and itwill'be 1 20 noted further that for the best results, the

parts may be so proportioned and arranged that the springs may be caused to engage and to leave the grinding surface at points corresponding respectively to the'minimum' and, maximumdepth of cuts, and at the' same time obtain the maximum length. ,flf travel acrgss'the face of said surface.,HoW-

abithjnr ngement and 'properti the relative diameters oi": the grinding sur- Si. maybe att the i'rmzchin ciable face and the path of the springs, the amount of offset or eccentricity of the shafts 3 and 13, and the inner diameter of the annular grinding surface, are all factors which are capable of "variation over a. wide range, without departing from. the spirit of my inyention.

As the springs are about to leave the surface of the element 6, at or near the point 33, Figs. 3 and 5, it is desirable that they be rotated on the axes of their respective arbors, in order to decrease the Wear upon the outer edge of said surface, and to prevent possible chipping thereof by the springs, and also to insure a more uniform grinding ofthe ends of the springs. To ac- :omplish this result, a belt 34:, or other deautomatically adjusts itself to the diameter of any spring that is presented thereto, as above described.

I claim, 1 V r v 1. In a spring grinding machine, a grinding element, and means for successively presenting the ends of the springs to said element, comprising a series of fixed arbors on which said springs are strung.

2. In a springgrinding machine, a series of arbors for supporting the springs to be ground, means for fixing said arbors to correspond to the lengths of the spr1ngs,and means foradp'lsting said arborswtomorrespond to the lengths of the springs.

' 3. In a spring grinding machine,- a work carrying element providing a series of arbore for supporting the springs to be ground, and means for detachably securing said arvice presenting a flexible friction surface, bdrs to said-work carrying means,said means may be loosely suspended so as to make contact with the springs as they approach the point 33, said belt being herein shown sing overt roller 35 which is disposed at above the point 33, so' as to insure :tween belt and springs for an apprelstan ce. The bel t 34 is held y ieldingly against the springs by a weight 36, and the rolling contact thus eifi'ected causes the springs to rotate on the axes of their res giective arbors. The other end of the belt.

ached to any dos" l. part of for convenience it is here shown as attached to an arm 37. p

The discharge of the springs from the arbors 9, after each has left the face of the grinding wheel is accomplished automath cally by means of a rotating toothed 0r corrugated member 38, disposed in the path of the springs, and attached. to a shaft 39 which is journaled in the arm 37. The shaft 39 is rotated by means of a belt l0, which encircles a pulley il thereon and which is guided around a pulley 4.2 on the shaft of. worm 21 by means of a guide pulley 42. The arm 37 is pivoted at 4.3'to the base 1,

and its free end, carrying the rotating ejector 38, is drawn yieldingly toward the periphery of the turret 8 by a spring 44, stop 45 being provided to limit the in ward movement of said arm. Each spring carried upwardly from the point 33 is wiped past the rotating member 38, whose corrugations or teeth successively engage the convolutions of the spring, to move the lat-- ter longitudinally of its arbor, and off the end of the same whence it may fall by gravity into a suitable receptacle provided for this purpose. The ejector 38 is preferably 'frustoconical in form. so that its effective surface conforms sub itantially to the path followed by each spring. during the time in which it is acted upon by said ejector. By reason of the yielding connection between the arm 37 and the base 1, the member 38 dilg being, adjustable for arbors of difierent diameters.

l. In'a. grinding machine, a work carrying element providing a plurality of peripheral notches, a work supporting arbor means for clamping saidarbors in operative position. p

5. In a grinding machine, a Work carrying element providing a plurality of peripheral notches, a Work supporting arbor adapted to seat in each notch, and a plurality of adjustable clamps, each operative with respect to two of said arbors, for securing the same to said work carrying element.

6. In a spring grinding machine, a grinding element, means for successively presenting the endsof the springs to said element, comprising a series of arbors on which said springs are strung, and means for rotating each spring on its arbor.

7. In a spring grinding machine, a revoluble grinding element, means for moving the springs to be ground thereby in a path eccentrio to the axis of said element, and means for rotating each spring as it reaches a. predetermined point in said path.

8. In a ,springgrinding machine, a revoluble grinding element, means for moving the springs to be ground thereby in a. circular path, a portion of which lies to one side of said grinding element, andmeans for rotateach spring as it approaches said portion ofits path.

9. In a spring grinding machine, means "for moving the springs to be ground in a. circular path, and means for rotating each spring about its own axis during a portion of its movement in said path.

10. In a grinding machine, an annular roadapted to seat in each notch, and ad ustable tating grinding element, and means for mov ing each article to be ground in a circular path intersecting the outer and inner peripheries of said annular grinding element.

11. In a. windin machine, a circularrm tat-ing grinding element, means for moving each article to be ground in a circular path intersecting the outer and inner peripheries of said ann'ular grinding element, and means for rotating each article as it approaches the outer periphery of said element.

13.,In aspring grinding machine, a revoluble grinding element, means for moving the springs to be ground in a circular path, into and out of contact with the surface of said grinding element, and means for; fixing said path in a plane inclined to said surface.

14. In a spring grinding machine, a revoluble grinding element, means for moving the springs to be ground in a circular path, into and out of contact with thesurface of said grinding element, and means for varying the inclination of the plane of said path With. respect to said surface.

, 15. In a I grinding machine, a revoluhle grinding element, a work supporting turret facing said grinding element and rotatable on' an axis ofi'set from the axis of said grinding element to carry the Work into and out of contact with the surface of said grinding element, and means for tilting said turret at an angle to said'surface.

' 16. In a grinding machine, a revoluhle grinding element, a Work supporting turret facing said grinding element and rotatable on an axis offset from the axis of said grinding element to carry the Work intoand out of contact with the surface of said grinding element, and means for varying the angular relation between the face of said turret and the surface of said grinding element.

17. In a spring grinding machine, a grinding element, means for successively presentsprings.

.ing the ends f the springs to said element, comprising a series of arbors on which said springs are strung, and automatic means for removing the springs from said arhors after the grinding operation.

18. In a spring grinding machine, a grinding element, means for successively presenting the ends of the springs to said clement,

comprising a series of arbors on which said springs are strung, automatic means ferrelnoving the sprlngsfrom said arhors after the grinding operation, consisting of a rotating member adapted to engage eachspring after grinding thereof and move 1t lengthwise off its arbor.

' 19; In a spring grinding machine, a grinding element, a spring carrying turret for moving the springs to be ground in a predetermined path, and a member operative to discharge the springs from said turret as each reaches a predetermined point in said path.

20. In a-sprmg grmdmg machine, a grind- 21. In a spring grinding machine, a grind-' ing element, a spring carrying turret for moving the springs to be ground in a predetermined path, a member operative to discharge the springs from said turret as each reaches a predetermined point in said path, and means for yieldingly retaining said member in said path, said member being sup: portedto adjustitself to the size of the FRANK H. QIJEEPER.

Witnesses Rinses B. FOWLER, PENELOPE COM nnnnAo n 

